Berkshire Scouts Mountain Team is here to support all leaders in getting their young people out in to the mountains and wildernesses of the UK.
We run regular weekends and evening workshops throughout the year for any adult involved in Scouting in Berkshire to develop their skills. The intention of these weekends and workshops is to provide leaders with a progressive series of events culminating in a successful assessment for a hillwalking permit, the qualification required to taking young people out into the hills.
Through our training programme we aim to cover the full range of skills sets right through from those first learning how to read a map and use a compass to those at the top of their game who want to master crampons and ice axes in full-on winter conditions.
Our weekends are run by highly skilled and experienced volunteers, most holding national governing body qualifications such as the Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor or Winter Mountain Leader.
Programme 2024
South Wales Terrain 1 Training or Assessment 28th-29th September 2024
This trip will be based in the Black Mountain (west Brecon Beacons). The trip is suitable for leaders working towards a hillwalking permit. Training or assessment for hill and moorland (Terrain 1) will be available on the weekend as well as the opportunity to use the trip as a base to go for a Quality Mountain Day and consolidate your experience.
As one of our low cost weekends there will not be any charge for the weekend but you will have to arrange your own food and accommodation. The instructors are planning to stay at the below campsite as a staff team if you wish to join us https://brecon-beacons-camping-and-caravanning.co.uk/campsite.html.
To book please visit the county diary. We were hoping to have two separate entries – one for training and one for assessment. We’re working to get this changed at the moment. For those keen to sign up now pick either course and as well as your emergency contact’s name please can you put the word ‘training’ or ‘assessment’ in the name field. If this is fixed when you visit please pick the appropriate one.
The trip will be lead by Paul Norris, Harry Canning and Alison Berry. For any questions please drop an email to [email protected].
Snowdonia/Eryri 2025
Save the date!
Our first trip of 2025 is our regular (and most popular) trip to Snowdonia. We will be offering permit training and assessment or the opportunity to head out with other leaders and do your own hillwalking. It will take place over the weekend of 18th-19th January 2025 at the Clogwyn Centre in Porth Penrhyn. The trip costs and sign-up will be released in the autumn.
Consolidation Between Training and Assessment
For those of you that are consolidating your experience before applying for a permit or assessment or have a permit that’s due to expire we’ve also produced some guidance on what makes a good logbook.
Ongoing Support
Whilst our main focus is our weekend programme we have an active Facebook group that exists to provide support and a sense of community to all leaders in Berkshire. It’s a great place to ask questions, discuss upcoming trips or show off with photos of your recent mountain adventures.
You’ll find most of the county training team on there along with existing and aspirant permit holders. To keep it to Scout leaders it’s a private group so please have your membership number handy.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/berkshire.scouts.hillwalking/
Contact the Team
You can contact the team via our Facebook group or you can contact our coordinator, Ralph Delaney.